Scuba Diving in Manado

Bunaken Timur

Meaning East Bunaken, this is a very long reef - so long in fact you'll need to dive Bunaken Timur more than once if you want to see it all.

What you will see is an array of beautiful soft corals and leather corals in the shallows, and a 35 metre wall, trimmed with fine lilac lace coral. There is plenty to delight the eye here and you may spot several different types of nudibranch as well as plenty of bright butterflyfish, including the ever-present crowds of pyramid butterflyfish and the rarely seen zebra butterflyfish, and the odd green turtle meandering by.

It's not all small stuff here though and you could well run into a few sharks, rare dolphinfish cruising below, or schools of eagle rays gliding elegantly into the blue. There can be a current on this dive, so it is normally reserved for intermediate divers. That said, it is not often difficult and is normally very rewarding, sometimes astoundingly so.

Apparently, a Dutch couple diving at Bunaken Timur came within 1 metre of 3 orcas (killer whales) - datsh amayshing!

Bunaken Timur Reef Basics: Fringing reef
Depth: 5 - 35m
Visibility: 20 - 30m
Currents: Can be strong
Surface conditions: Calm
Water temperature: 27 - 30°C
Experience level: Intermediate - advanced
Number of dive sites: 2
Diving season: All year round, but can be rough from January to March
Distance: ~20 km north of Manado Bay (45 mins)
Access: Bunaken and Manado resorts and liveaboards

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